Reasonable Trade Discussion

[Canadouche]

Does Wilson constitute as a the "Miller-type" I was speculating that Theo would pursue?

Not really. He's only gone more than one inning twice all season.

Before he'd been traded to Cleveland last year, Miller had pitched 45.1 innings in 44 games. Even last year, in the regular season, he only pitched 3 more innings than games he'd appeared in. It wasn't until the playoffs that he began to be used in an unconventional way, which has spilled over into the new season where, this year, he's thrown 53.1 innings in 45 appearances. Miller was always a well-known amazing set up man/closer, but the unconventional way that he gets used is still pretty new for him. I bet that the Cubs will try to use Wilson in a similar way to how Cleveland now uses Miller, assuming he steps up and can handle the workload, and high leverage situations.

Is this just because you really want to be right on the internet, or is there some indication besides Miller = lefty, Wilson = lefty, therefore Wilson = Miller that this is what the Cubs have in mind?

I don't even think the lefty-lefty thing is relevant. The Cubs glaring weakness in the last post season was in bridging the gap from starter to closer, which caused Joe to over-rely on a handful of guys, and, in particular, to use Chapman in a way that Chapman wasn't particularly used to or comfortable with. He was basically trying to have his cake and eat it to -- use Chapman the way the Indians were using Miller, but still relying on Chapman to get the last 3 outs of the game, although the Indians had a different pitcher in the closer role.

The Cubs still only have a handful of relievers that I think Joe trusts in those high leverage situations. Obtaining Wilson gives Maddon a go-to-guy particularly in those situations in which they have to use your best reliever earlier in a game in either a dirty inning and/or against the best bats on the opposing lineup. Maybe they have no intention of using Wilson, or anybody, in that kind of role, but instead will maintain a more traditional use of bullpen. Still, this is a pretty good grade that makes the Cubs a better team in those high leverage situations.

[Quality Start Machine]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

[Canadouche]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

It looks like they are actually hitting lefties slightly better than they hit righties.

[SKO]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

The Dodgers aren't having issues with anything right now. Gonna have to hope that just means they'll hit their wall late in the year.

[Canadouche]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

The Dodgers aren't having issues with anything right now. Gonna have to hope that just means they'll hit their wall late in the year.

Plus they just picked up Darvish.

[SKO]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

The Dodgers aren't having issues with anything right now. Gonna have to hope that just means they'll hit their wall late in the year.

Plus they just picked up Darvish.

Gonna be some Cardinal-esque bullshit that pisses off everyone when a 91 win Cubs team tops the 110 win Dodgers and brother I am here for it.

[Quality Start Machine]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

The Dodgers aren't having issues with anything right now. Gonna have to hope that just means they'll hit their wall late in the year.

Plus they just picked up Darvish.

Gonna be some Cardinal-esque bullshit that pisses off everyone when a 91 win Cubs team tops the 110 win Dodgers and brother I am here for it.

I can't see Dodger fans getting too pissed off about anything. Except, of course, Giants fans.

[SKO]

Are the Dodgers still having issues against LH pitching? Because now the Cubs have 2 in the rotation and 3 in the bullpen.

The Dodgers aren't having issues with anything right now. Gonna have to hope that just means they'll hit their wall late in the year.

Plus they just picked up Darvish.

Gonna be some Cardinal-esque bullshit that pisses off everyone when a 91 win Cubs team tops the 110 win Dodgers and brother I am here for it.

I can't see Dodger fans getting too pissed off about anything. Except, of course, Giants fans.

I mean in general I think if LA/NYY/CHI/BOS are all going to be in the mix this October casual fans are going to be on team "Anyone But Those Guys", but I would bet a few neutral observers/Cardinals and White Sox fans will be rooting for LA over the Cubs and be as baffled by their inexplicable success against Kershaw et al as we were in 2013/2014

[Brownie]

The Tigers traded Justin Upton to the Angels. Is there any scenario in which Mr. Kate Upton (aka Justin Verlander) goes to the Cubs today? There was speculation yesterday that the Leake trade was for the Cardinals to clear space for Verlander.

As a side note, there have been fun Aug. 31 deals and near-deals. One of my favorite what-ifs was the near-trade of Jeff Pico and Calvin Schiraldi to the Sux for Carlton Fisk in 1989.

[Saul Goodman]

The Tigers traded Justin Upton to the Angels. Is there any scenario in which Mr. Kate Upton (aka Justin Verlander) goes to the Cubs today? There was speculation yesterday that the Leake trade was for the Cardinals to clear space for Verlander.

As a side note, there have been fun Aug. 31 deals and near-deals. One of my favorite what-ifs was the near-trade of Jeff Pico and Calvin Schiraldi to the Sux for Carlton Fisk in 1989.

Thank you for clarifying what you meant by Mr. Kate Upton, as I would have had no idea who you were talking about.

[Oleg]

The Tigers traded Justin Upton to the Angels. Is there any scenario in which Mr. Kate Upton (aka Justin Verlander) goes to the Cubs today? There was speculation yesterday that the Leake trade was for the Cardinals to clear space for Verlander.

As a side note, there have been fun Aug. 31 deals and near-deals. One of my favorite what-ifs was the near-trade of Jeff Pico and Calvin Schiraldi to the Sux for Carlton Fisk in 1989.

So, The Cardinals would then think that Verlander is worth his remaining salary (58MM) plus the 17MM they sent to...oh god I forgot to whom they traded Leake.  75MM for two years of a 3-3.5-win pitcher...

Does that seem smart?

[Saul Goodman]

The Tigers traded Justin Upton to the Angels. Is there any scenario in which Mr. Kate Upton (aka Justin Verlander) goes to the Cubs today? There was speculation yesterday that the Leake trade was for the Cardinals to clear space for Verlander.

As a side note, there have been fun Aug. 31 deals and near-deals. One of my favorite what-ifs was the near-trade of Jeff Pico and Calvin Schiraldi to the Sux for Carlton Fisk in 1989.

So, The Cardinals would then think that Verlander is worth his remaining salary (58MM) plus the 17MM they sent to...oh god I forgot to whom they traded Leake.  75MM for two years of a 3-3.5-win pitcher...

Does that seem smart?

It's not the smart move, but it's the RIGHT move.

[Quality Start Machine]

Shohei Otani is coming to MLB next year.

There's no way the Cubs get him, right?

[SKO]

Shohei Otani is coming to MLB next year.

There's no way the Cubs get him, right?

Actually there's a fairly compelling argument they might. Otani is passing up hundreds of millions potentially by wanting to be posted right now vs waiting the 2 years when he'd qualify as an actual free agent and not be subject to the cap. So the argument there is he knows he's giving up millions, he just wants to pitch in MLB, and whatever team he signs with can sign him to a market value extension after a year or so. So knowing any team he signs with is gonna have to work out a mega-extension with him soon, he's likely to choose based more on winning and culture than the ability to pay him 10 mil vs 300 K right now, because he's going to get his big pay day down soon enough anyway. So I'd definitely consider the Dodgers and Cubs in it.

[Quality Start Machine]

Shohei Otani is coming to MLB next year.

There's no way the Cubs get him, right?

Actually there's a fairly compelling argument they might. Otani is passing up hundreds of millions potentially by wanting to be posted right now vs waiting the 2 years when he'd qualify as an actual free agent and not be subject to the cap. So the argument there is he knows he's giving up millions, he just wants to pitch in MLB, and whatever team he signs with can sign him to a market value extension after a year or so. So knowing any team he signs with is gonna have to work out a mega-extension with him soon, he's likely to choose based more on winning and culture than the ability to pay him 10 mil vs 300 K right now, because he's going to get his big pay day down soon enough anyway. So I'd definitely consider the Dodgers and Cubs in it.

What the Dodgers and Cubs can't offer though, is a chance to DH on non-pitching days.